Peugeot RCZ review

Overview

The RCZ is one of those cars you might buy precisely because the sensible alternatives all look alike. The original-shape Peugeot has a low roof and a pronounced two-seat feel, even though there are two rear seats. This review concerns the 2011 UK GT with the 1.6 THP 156 and six-speed manual. It is not the facelift, diesel or more specialised RCZ R, so their performance and equipment do not transfer. This is original buying analysis based on period documents and independent reviews, not a RoadMatch road test. The case for it is a manageable price for an involving-looking, usable coupé. The case against is what neglect can cost on a car of this age.

Exterior and interior

The arches and double-curved rear glass are the visual draw, but also give you a useful list of things to inspect. Check the glass for damage and the seals and trim for signs of water ingress or previous repairs. Auto Express identifies corrosion of the roof-rail finish as a point to look for. There are large doors to open in a narrow bay and a low seat to drop into. Try both yourself rather than buying from a photo. GT gives you leather and electric heated front seats; test them before deciding the upgrade is worth paying for. The dashboard is much more conventional than the exterior, which may be a plus if you prefer simple controls.

Practicality

Treat the back seats as occasional places, not four-adult transport. Two doors make access awkward, and the driving position you need can leave little space behind you. Try the actual people or approved child restraints you intend to carry. The boot is useful for a couple's bags, but the lid limits which shapes go in. Peugeot's September 2011 UK specification lists 309 litres. Another Peugeot brochure quotes 321 dm³ VDA or 384 litres liquid-equivalent. We use the lower UK technical-table figure rather than quietly choosing the biggest number. Check the aperture, and do not treat the bigger seats-folded figure as space available with passengers on board.

Driving experience

The appeal is the seating position, manual controls and chassis response on normal roads, not acceleration to match a current performance car. The independent period accounts distinguish the RCZ from the family hatchback on which it was based, while preferring the stronger THP 200 for buyers who put handling first. In our view, the GT 156 is the approachable version for someone who wants a coupé they can use regularly. Try a rough road as well as a smooth bend. The GT's large wheels can draw attention to poor surfaces, and a noisy or uneven-wearing set of tyres can disguise how a healthy car should behave. Leave the more focused RCZ R out of the comparison unless you mean to buy one.

Performance

The September 2011 UK technical sheet gives 115 kW, about 154 mechanical bhp, and 240 Nm for the THP 156 manual. Its nominal 156 figure is the model designation; the conversion here uses the listed kW to avoid mixing power units. Peugeot gives 8.3 seconds from rest to 62 mph for the manual and a different figure for the automatic. Do not assume a GT badge means it has the 200 engine. On the drive, look for clean response at an everyday throttle opening and a consistent shift through the gears. A hesitation or a warning under load is a reason to get it inspected, not to repeat a hard acceleration test.

Fuel economy

Peugeot's 2011 UK figure is 44.1 imperial mpg on the old combined NEDC cycle. The contemporary automatic figure is lower, and neither is a prediction for a fifteen-year-old car on your commute. Our running-cost scenario uses 34 mpg. At 7,000 miles and the same assumed fuel price, 30 mpg instead would add roughly £180 a year, before any other costs change. Compare that with your own mileage and fuel costs, particularly if you do frequent short trips. This is a petrol model, not an excuse to guess its clean-air-zone status. Check the registration for any zone you expect to enter.

Reliability

The chain and tensioner are the key questions for this early petrol. Autocar's buyer guide advises checking for previous timing work, and Auto Express distinguishes the petrol chain from the diesel's belt. Ask for the invoice and parts detail rather than accepting a verbal claim. A cold-start rattle or uneven running is a diagnostic issue, not a reason to haggle and drive away. Have a specialist investigate unexplained oil use, coolant loss or fault codes. Also check mirrors, seals and the active spoiler because smaller faults add up on a car bought for its condition. The reliability score is an editorial assessment with limited confidence, not a frequency estimate.

Safety

No exact Euro NCAP assessment was verified for this RCZ. We do not apply a Peugeot 308 result by association or infer crash performance from the equipment list. The UK technical specification identifies front and front-side airbags, electronic stability control and rear ISOFIX mountings. Verify warning lights and restraint condition, and check the handbook for compatibility before carrying a child in a particular seat. Inspect for poor accident repair, damaged tyres or a dashboard that does not run its expected start-up checks. Use GOV.UK's registration lookup and Peugeot's recall service to ask about the actual car. If independent modern safety evidence is central to your purchase, compare a separately assessed alternative.

Technology and features

The useful equipment here is ordinary cruise control, front and rear parking assistance and heated front seats, all shown in the UK GT specification. Cruise control does not follow a vehicle ahead. Bluetooth and USB are period systems, not modern phone projection; try your phone before assuming calls or playback will work as you expect. Test the parking sensors and the operation of the seats, windows and mirrors. Inspect any replacement head unit and confirm it does not disable controls you rely on. We do not count Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or a reversing camera as fitted on this variant. If one is essential, require a working demonstration on the actual car.

Running costs

The £3,000–£6,500 purchase band is an editorial planning estimate dated November 2026, not a live valuation. At 7,000 miles, 34 mpg and an assumed £1.45 per litre, annual fuel is about £1,360. A £250 illustrative tax allowance plus £550–£1,100 for ordinary servicing, MOT and wear puts the total near £2,150–£2,700. Insurance, depreciation, finance and major faults are excluded. Check the tax by registration and obtain your own insurance quote. Before setting a purchase ceiling, price four tyres in the actual size, and keep an extra reserve for major work. If that makes the RCZ unaffordable, a cheaper example with missing invoices is not the solution.

Advantages and disadvantages